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Tips on Spy Gadgets for Kids

Kids love pretending they're spies, and you can find a wide variety of spy gadgets in toy aisles. Unfortunately, many of these toys either break easily or don't work the way your child expects. You can avoid this and make your child feel like he's really Agent 007 by getting him spy gadgets that a grown up might use for a legitimate activity then tailoring the use of the item for play time.

Stealth Grabber
- Every good spy needs a way to steal secret plans and gadgets without being noticed. Your little spy can accomplish this without dropping down on wires Mission-Impossible-style. He can just use a grabbing tool, the kind grandmothers use to reach items stored too high in a closet. It will enable him to reach for something and remove it silently. Expect to pay $20-$30 for one of these, such as the PikStik Classic Grabber at Home Depot (homedepot.com). It can lift tiny objects and items up to 5 pounds.
Communication
- Spies need to talk to each other, and kid spies love real walkie talkies, the kind that grown ups use on school campuses and at large amusement parks. These are actually two-way radios. Look for a pair with a wide receiver radius and numerous channels, such as the Motorola Talkabouts at Best Buy (bestbuy.com). These have a 28-mile radius and 22 channels. They retail for about $55. You can expect to pay between $20-$100 for two-way radios depending on the bells and whistles. Base that on the area where your little spy will be playing and whether she'll need gadgets good enough to reach long distances or contact her spy colleagues at their houses.
Cameras
- Spies sometimes need to collect surveillance video and photos of their targets. Help your little spy complete his mission with a tiny camera. You can use a wireless camera that goes on top of the computer or a mini camera for daily use. Expect to pay between $50-$100 for this gadget, such as the 3-in-1 mini DV MicroCam at Brookstone (brookstone.com) that captures video and still photos. When your little James Bond is asleep, you can also use it for your computer. It retails for about $100.
Spy Pen
- You can't get your little spy a lipstick that's really a dart gun but you can get her a pen that records sound or video. Adults use recording pens for use at seminars and interviews. Your Natasha Spy can use the same pen for getting instructions from headquarters, taking secret video and recording secret conversations. She won't be able to see what she's recording, so stay away from a pen if she really wants a tiny camera. But do get her a spy pen if she wants a recording gadget that's disguised, such as the Executive Pen at Amazon (amazon.com). It has a built-in FM radio and MP3 player that makes it especially versatile for little spies. This one retails for about $50 but you can find recordable pens from $20-$100.

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